You are right on, alabama. There really is no comparison with the
nutrition in Forage Pro as compared to a molasses block. We sell
molasses block but at our meetings we always talk about how much
better the Forage Pro is. The drawback to Forage Pro is that it has
to be managed. You have to service the tubs a couple of times
a week. That's a big deal to some, not much of a deal to others.
But the nutrition in the product makes a big difference.
Also, our tubs do not contain mineral. There is no way to keep the
mineral dispersed in the tub, it settles in pockets. So to anyone
that uses tubs, I would recommend a low-phos free choice mineral
be accessible at all times.
At the Beef Cow Symposium held in Rapid City a few years ago,
I heard that a man stood up in the midst of the crowd, told what
molasses block company he worked for and said they go over to
St. Onge to the lumber mill and get sawdust for filler in those tubs.
You know dirt is protein. They can add dirt to UP the protein, but
what good is it? Just a number on the tag. Cows can't utilize
dirt. And that's where the problems come. I dealt with a molasses
tub company once for one of our customers. Talk about a scumbag outfit.
(I would never want to be a feed salesman. Too much double talk
goes on. Figured that out after an afternoon with their feed salesman.)
What finally happened
is that the customers cows were eating 5-6 lbs. of thier block
instead of what the tag said they would. The cows got loose. Too
much molasses upsets the ph in the rumen, among other things.
It wasn't good. We did get the company to pay the man the
difference between what they said they would eat and what they
actually did eat. I would never get involved in a deal like that
again. If you don't know the company, RUNNNNNNNNNNNN!!
Luckily, the rancher we dealt with was appreciative with how
we handled the situation. Those tubs were supposed to be 20% all
natural protein. They weren't. When we read the tag carefully,
there was ammonia in the product. Also chicken feathers. And
once the top was gone, the stuff inside was stringy. It was GROSS
I tell ya.
To be safe, buy what you can see. They can just do too many things
with processed feed.
I still think using them to get calves on feed is the best use of them. But
don't kid yourself that they are what is keeping the calves healthy.
It's not. That started before the calves were weaned.
Need I say, "Immune system"? :wink: